The Osage Nation Immersion School received a $420,926 two-year federal grant from the Administration for Native Americans (ANA). The Nation’s Grants and Compliance Department announced the award on Sept. 1.
“This marks the first time since 2005 that the Osage Nation has received an ANA Award for language,” said Grants Manager Chris Standing Bear.
The funds will be available after the ON Congress authorizes the expenditure.
The immersion school, which was founded last year and is named Da-Pos-Ska Ah-Koh-Da-Pee (our school), is in its first year of teaching a Kindergarten class which currently has four students. The year-round school is currently for children ages 0-5 and children are immersed in the Osage language from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. every day.
According to the release, two grade levels will be added to the school as well as additional staff members and teachers. The staff is currently developing standard operating procedures and policies.
“The goal of the school is to perpetuate the Osage language for future generations by developing an immersion school that will ensure the survival of Osage culture and language,” according to the release.
By
Osage News
Original Publish Date: 2016-09-06 00:00:00